Qualbert.com's Reviews
Metroid Prime Remastered is a classic made flawless and an essential title to add to your Nintendo Switch library. With the release of Remastered, the Nintendo Switch is without a doubt the definitive way to experience the crown jewel of Nintendo’s timeless Metroid series. Given a complete visual overhaul, modern dual-stick controls, and a surreal surround sound mix with more atmosphere than ever, this is Metroid at its absolute Prime.
From the moment the game opens with The Black Keys’ “Lonely Boy“, to smashing bosses with a guitar while Beethoven’s 5th Symphony blares, Hi-Fi RUSH is musical headliner packed with melodic mayhem. Its platforming and combat are enhanced every step of the way through clever incorporation of its soundtrack, offering an approachable blend of classic beat ’em up gameplay mashed together with rhythmic elements. With a colourful performance from its charming characters, and an even more vibrant visual style, Hi-Fi RUSH is a videogame treat that doesn’t miss a beat.
Rhythm Sprout is yet another creative rhythm game that proves the indie scene is truly pushing the genre forward. While it’s simple enough for anyone to pick up and play, the game’s difficulty will put even seasoned pros to the test. Boasting a super sleek visual style and an absurd sense of humour, players hungry for a short and sweet rhythm game will be left satisfied by Rhythm Sprout.
Deciding if purchasing the Remake is worth it is a point of contention that players familiar with the original Dead Space franchise will have. The case that the 2008 game still plays fantastically today is undeniable – I had a rollicking good time getting frightened by it just last year. Luckily, Dead Space Remake does just enough to be a cruise down memory lane, whilst perfecting the formula and expanding the universe where it has room to be expanded.
Persona 3 is the kind of game that comes along maybe once in a decade. This title revolutionised Persona and developed the core gameplay of the series as we now know it. For the longest of time, Persona 3 has been inaccessible for millions, with many new fans of the series lacking any means to play it. The Persona 3 Portable remaster has changed this completely and brings one of the finest games of all-time finally to a console near you.
Persona 4 and Persona 4 Golden were in the absolute top tier of JRPGs on their respective systems on initial release. Despite a 10 year gap, the HD remaster of Persona 4 Golden shows that this is a simply a classic game, and it remains amongst the best JRPGs that have ever been released on any console. This is a massive game that will take about 60-80 hours to complete a single playthrough, with a ‘New Game +’ option available for those wanting to experience more of the magnificence on offer. Definitely value for money.
One Piece Odyssey is a stunningly brilliant game that’s full of charm, put together with love and a guiding hand from the series creator himself. Odyssey is the perfect game for any long time One Piece fans and even perfect for those looking for a new game with a classic RPG feel to it. The characters are wonderfully portrayed, the story is interesting and the gameplay is wonderfully pieced together. The overworld is full of colourful scenery while the combat is fast-paced and well balanced. You can see how much love, care and planning went into the game as a whole and it’s one I can see myself playing for quite a while to come.
GRIS is a moving, excellent trek through processing grief and battling inner demons. It’s presented in such pristine fashion and is as worth it to pick up for those who played in 2019 as it is for newcomers. It’s marketed as “free of danger, frustration, or death”, so don’t expect a massive challenge aside from nabbing every collectible, but expect to feel some strain when the plot comes together as it concludes. GRIS is an easy recommendation for anyone in the market for a touching experience to sink your teeth into.
It’s obvious to see why Crisis Core is revered as such a PlayStation Portable classic, and with the game now available to play on all modern consoles, there’s really no excuse not to play it. Returning to Midgar for this thrilling prequel will give newcomers far more of an appreciation for the world of Final Fantasy VII and its characters, while those who have played the PSP original will appreciate the significant improvements in Reunion. Overall, this is a delightful spin-off that should be considered as part of the core Final Fantasy experience.
Dragon Quest Treasures is a real gem of a spin-off that will delight any fan of the Dragon Quest series. Those who grew up playing Dragon Quest Monsters will have the most appreciation for Treasures, which pays homage to and modernises the gameplay of this fan-favourite series. Through its approachable combat and expansive exploration, Treasures manages to create a simple yet addictive adventure that’s truly worth its weight in gold.
Them’s Fightin’ Herds is a fun homage for fans of My Little Pony, but also quite a strong contender for a competitive 2D fighting game. The visuals are very pleasing and the comedy is on point. However, while it’s an easy game to pick up, it’s a difficult game to master. I wouldn’t advise anyone to attempt this with just a controller and to invest some money in a fightstick, which should hopefully make the fights much easier and enjoyable. Overall, I did enjoy my time with the game, but would have preferred to see it be more beginner friendly for anyone not overly adept at fighting games.
Pokemon Scarlet is a conflicting experience to say the least – like a confused Pokemon. While it’s certainly the least polished Pokemon game to date, most fans of the series will still find plenty to enjoy in Paldea. The open world formula and fresh gameplay, even riddled with visual glitches, is clearly a step in the right direction for the franchise. Scarlet also treats players to not only a heartfelt story, but some of the best battle themes heart across the entire series. This is still a must-play for Pokemon fans, even if at times it hurts itself in confusion.
Evil West isn’t going to be for every gamer, as it caters to the hyper-action-savvy players that want everything turned up to 11, and not for those who want to sail through and experience just the story. While it isn’t impossible, it’s a worthy challenge to play through Evil West on Normal or higher, as you can be taken out in a few hits, but the game warrants high-risk-high-reward players with wiping the floor with these enemies once they get a handle on how the game plays.
I knew I’d be a bit biased going into Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PC – not only because I’m a fanatic of the web-slinger, but because I already experienced it in full last winter on my PS5. That being said, there’s never a bad time to revisit a game that you love, and doing so on a beefy PC made for an amazing time during my PC playthrough. Spider-Man: Miles Morales PC runs like a dream, is full of gusto, and is just a joy from start to finish. While some may decry it for being shorter than Marvel’s Spider-Man, it’s more of a case of never overstaying its welcome.
Return to Monkey Island is a fun puzzle adventure that will keep new and returning fans entertained for a decent while. The gameplay is solid and smooth, I couldn’t find any fault in it, it’s just a great point and click adventure game. The story is an enjoyable tale and the visuals are very pleasing to see. I guess if I had one grievance, I just wish the game were longer. Monkey Island games have always been fun and hilarious, I just wish there was more of them.
Temtem is a perfectly-playable game; there’s no pesky bugs or glitches, or anything glaring that the QA team didn’t catch before the game saw its 1.0 release in September. But when it comes to the fun factor, it’s evident what went wrong for me to not get the same enjoyment that I would out of a Pokémon title. While Temtem executes all of its systems to the T to entice fans of Pokémon, it needs to do more than that to make it stand out and reach the immensely-high bar that Pokémon has set.
I’ve gushed about this game for long enough. I’m a long time fan of Kratos’ adventures, and I thought nothing could possibly top the previous game God of War (2018) that is in the conversation for ‘best game of the last generation’. I was wrong (you might say off my head). Ragnarök builds on God of War (2018) in every conceivable way. This is one of those games that simply every person who considers themselves a gamer should experience. This is Game of the Year for 2022 (sorry Elden Ring). After that emotional experience, I honestly need a hug.
Bayonetta 3 is the definitive Bayonetta experience polished to near perfection over the last decade of the series. Despite being held back by the technical limitations of the Switch, this latest entry delivers some of the most bombastic, ridiculous, and extravagant gameplay featured in any videogame. Platinum have taken their distinct action game style and turned it up to 11 at every given opportunity. So whether or not you’re a fan of action games, or whether or not you’ve played any of the previous Bayonetta games, if you enjoy fun, you won’t want to miss the Umbra Witch on the Switch.
Shadows of Rose, like Rose herself, is short and sweet. This standalone story can be completed in a single sitting and offers a glimpse at Village’s most horrific settings through a new lens. And while brief, segments of this DLC are some of the most terrifying ever seen throughout the entire Resident Evil series. So if you enjoyed exploring Village, Shadows of Rose is an absolute necessity beyond a shadow of a doubt.
New Tales From the Borderlands offers a story is quirky and comedic with decent replayability due to its dialogue choices. The trio of protagonists actually have flaws that they work on leading to some decent character arcs and the game is smooth as silk in the exploration. Where it really lets itself down is the lack of any resolution to a previous storyline and the overabundance of QTEs. If they also had the really enjoyable side characters make more of an appearance, it would have also help flesh out the world.